Halloween (sort of)
We had our first Halloween out of the US. We had heard that it wasn't such a big holiday here in Germany but it seems to be gaining popularity. On Saturday night (the 30th of October) we were surprised when our doorbell rang at 8:30pm. Fortunately, we did have some candy on hand for the eventual visitor on Halloween eve that Fritz was able to throw in a bowl and bring to the door. There were three rather gruesome teenagers there saying something in German with the gist of "trick or treat". He offered them the bowl and they proceeded to clean us out. Fortunately, he had the presence of mind to pull it back while three peices, of the once two bags of candy, yet remained.
Sharon had the good fortune and finesse I must say to deal with the next batch of about twenty or so like teenagers that came about half hour later. Miraculousy, they were satisfied with the three sweets among them.
Needless to say Fritz ran out in the morning to one of the only supermakets open in the city on Sunday to buy more candy (of which of course we had lots left over on Monday.) We did get a few more trick or treaters on Halloween but maybe four or five groups. All were older kids and all were very traditionally gruesomely clad. You won't find any Teletubbies or Little Mermaids here. Gouls, skeletons, vampires, everyone in black, lots of blood, etc. It seems as though they are still trying to figure out how and if they will do this holiday.
We had a birthday party on Halloween eve and the kids enjoyed the oportunity to dress up (American style- Sophie was a princess and Gracie was a balerina. Oscar went au natural ). Then afterwards we tried to do a little trick or treating (Zoe donned a cute little china princess outfit from our old neighbors the Hespelt's).
Trick or treating wasn't easy. It seems as though people mostly go to people that they know for a visit and a treat. We had no luck with anyone answering their doorbells in a random trick or treat walk. So we thought we would stop in some of the stores. The Indian restaurant underneath Sharon's apartment knows us and is friendly with the kids, so when we saw a bunch of older gouls go in there we tagged along. The waiter had no idea what to do with us. After a few minutes he racked up a bar full of glasses and doled out Mango lasses.
We did hook up with American community so fear not we did get more than our share of the good ole, "pass the candy"- style Halloween. We attended the "Halloween Spooktacular" at the German-American school on Friday night. It was a little slice of the good ole USA neatly confined within a fenced in area. So just as usual we find ourselves sugared out but with a few cute pictures to show for it on Monday morning.
Next comes Laterna, the more traditional German fall holiday- stay tuned.
Sharon had the good fortune and finesse I must say to deal with the next batch of about twenty or so like teenagers that came about half hour later. Miraculousy, they were satisfied with the three sweets among them.
Needless to say Fritz ran out in the morning to one of the only supermakets open in the city on Sunday to buy more candy (of which of course we had lots left over on Monday.) We did get a few more trick or treaters on Halloween but maybe four or five groups. All were older kids and all were very traditionally gruesomely clad. You won't find any Teletubbies or Little Mermaids here. Gouls, skeletons, vampires, everyone in black, lots of blood, etc. It seems as though they are still trying to figure out how and if they will do this holiday.
We had a birthday party on Halloween eve and the kids enjoyed the oportunity to dress up (American style- Sophie was a princess and Gracie was a balerina. Oscar went au natural ). Then afterwards we tried to do a little trick or treating (Zoe donned a cute little china princess outfit from our old neighbors the Hespelt's).
Trick or treating wasn't easy. It seems as though people mostly go to people that they know for a visit and a treat. We had no luck with anyone answering their doorbells in a random trick or treat walk. So we thought we would stop in some of the stores. The Indian restaurant underneath Sharon's apartment knows us and is friendly with the kids, so when we saw a bunch of older gouls go in there we tagged along. The waiter had no idea what to do with us. After a few minutes he racked up a bar full of glasses and doled out Mango lasses.
We did hook up with American community so fear not we did get more than our share of the good ole, "pass the candy"- style Halloween. We attended the "Halloween Spooktacular" at the German-American school on Friday night. It was a little slice of the good ole USA neatly confined within a fenced in area. So just as usual we find ourselves sugared out but with a few cute pictures to show for it on Monday morning.
Next comes Laterna, the more traditional German fall holiday- stay tuned.
posted by jackie and fritz at 4:33 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home